Comments on: Our Bridge http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/ Mon, 21 May 2012 15:26:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: jarbury http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-105 jarbury Sun, 24 May 2009 21:10:42 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-105 That 30 year figure is utterly stupid, although I'm in some ways glad that NZTA aren't planning on wasting $3.5 billion on a road tunnel for another 30 years. NZTA just don't want to spend a few million on something that isn't for cars. It's their mentality that needs to be changed. I look forward to more bridge protests until that mentality does change. That 30 year figure is utterly stupid, although I’m in some ways glad that NZTA aren’t planning on wasting $3.5 billion on a road tunnel for another 30 years. NZTA just don’t want to spend a few million on something that isn’t for cars.

It’s their mentality that needs to be changed. I look forward to more bridge protests until that mentality does change.

]]> By: Chris http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-104 Chris Sun, 24 May 2009 20:54:33 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-104 John: the story is there will "room for a cycle lane" once the tunnel under the harbour is built in thirty years. Our host may have some insight into whether that's actually likely to happen, but it all sounds like bullsh!t to me. Although reading about the clip-ons as I wrote my blog last night, it sounds like we might not even have a functional bridge by then. John: the story is there will “room for a cycle lane” once the tunnel under the harbour is built in thirty years. Our host may have some insight into whether that’s actually likely to happen, but it all sounds like bullsh!t to me. Although reading about the clip-ons as I wrote my blog last night, it sounds like we might not even have a functional bridge by then.

]]> By: john http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-103 john Sun, 24 May 2009 11:00:57 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-103 Interesting in the NZ Herald article on this is that they quote NZTA as saying there is plan to allow pedestrians and cyclists but it will take 30 years to happen...WTF? Sounds like some bureaucrats in NZTA are trying to guarantee themselves work until they retire :-), how else can they explain such a patently absurd figure? Interesting in the NZ Herald article on this is that they quote NZTA as saying there is plan to allow pedestrians and cyclists but it will take 30 years to happen…WTF?

Sounds like some bureaucrats in NZTA are trying to guarantee themselves work until they retire :-) , how else can they explain such a patently absurd figure?

]]> By: jarbury http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-102 jarbury Sun, 24 May 2009 09:58:42 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-102 Yeah that's about right Chris. I thought the TV3 coverage was a joke too - this wasn't a bunch of fanatics like they were making it out to be, there were people of all ages who just want the chance to enjoy and celebrate our Harbour Bridge. Yeah that’s about right Chris.

I thought the TV3 coverage was a joke too – this wasn’t a bunch of fanatics like they were making it out to be, there were people of all ages who just want the chance to enjoy and celebrate our Harbour Bridge.

]]> By: Chris http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-101 Chris Sun, 24 May 2009 08:54:07 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-101 We saw the camera chopper as we were coming off the bridge. A cynic might suggest they only got good footage of the traffic jam, so that was what they did a story about. We saw the camera chopper as we were coming off the bridge. A cynic might suggest they only got good footage of the traffic jam, so that was what they did a story about.

]]> By: Ana http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-100 Ana Sun, 24 May 2009 06:18:13 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-100 What a great day - it felt momentous to be able to walk across the bridge and what a lovely morning for it! Jervois road cafes were solid afterwards - a truly middle class march and a boon for commerce as well :) I just watched the TV3 coverage and really, it's a bit of a joke. I imagine the TVNZ coverage not much better. Several formative experiences experiences with similar actions in my uni years taught me that if a direct action is going to get favourable coverage, it is necessary to seize and hang on to the narrative, otehrwise the media will stick to the 'naughty lawbreaking hippies' vs upstanding police' script. Next time the spokespeople should make sure they take the lead in establishing the spin before the police/traansport authority do! (No criticism implied - and I do hope there will be a next time!) well done everyone! What a great day – it felt momentous to be able to walk across the bridge and what a lovely morning for it! Jervois road cafes were solid afterwards – a truly middle class march and a boon for commerce as well :)

I just watched the TV3 coverage and really, it’s a bit of a joke. I imagine the TVNZ coverage not much better. Several formative experiences experiences with similar actions in my uni years taught me that if a direct action is going to get favourable coverage, it is necessary to seize and hang on to the narrative, otehrwise the media will stick to the ‘naughty lawbreaking hippies’ vs upstanding police’ script. Next time the spokespeople should make sure they take the lead in establishing the spin before the police/traansport authority do!

(No criticism implied – and I do hope there will be a next time!)

well done everyone!

]]> By: jarbury http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-99 jarbury Sun, 24 May 2009 05:17:19 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-99 I think that approach will backfire on NZTA. They could have easily set the bridge up in a 2x2 formation I reckon if they wanted to keep us off the clip-ons. It was their terrible planning that led to the whole motorway having to be closed - and I don't think there really was an alternative once everyone was on the bridge (as in the clip ons had to be kept shut because that's where people were entering and exiting the bridge, while the main part needed to be kept shut as they didn't want too many people walking on the clip-ons). I can't wait for the next Get Across protest walk. It will be WAY bigger next time too! I think that approach will backfire on NZTA. They could have easily set the bridge up in a 2×2 formation I reckon if they wanted to keep us off the clip-ons. It was their terrible planning that led to the whole motorway having to be closed – and I don’t think there really was an alternative once everyone was on the bridge (as in the clip ons had to be kept shut because that’s where people were entering and exiting the bridge, while the main part needed to be kept shut as they didn’t want too many people walking on the clip-ons).

I can’t wait for the next Get Across protest walk. It will be WAY bigger next time too!

]]> By: Chris http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-98 Chris Sun, 24 May 2009 05:16:19 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-98 I was there as well and it was bloody fantastic to be able to walk over the bridge, particularly when I know my grandmother did when it opened. What stood out for me was - no fear of the large numbers of bikes there - pedestrians and cyclists mingled incredibly well - large numbers of simply middle-aged, middle-class people (and lots of children) there signalling this wasn't the actions of some 'rabble rousers' - the scenery was amazing - walking up towards the North Shore, then down the other side, seeing the harbour and out to Coromandel, and back across seeing the city up close on the left, then the shoreline receeding away up the Waitemata to Te Atatu pennisula - that was pretty amazing - the sunny day! - the fact that Wayne McDonald had no Plan B! I was very surprised - never go anywhere without a Plan B and he clearly didn't have one - otherwise it would have been easy to close the two clipons and let the crowd move up those. I hope he loses his job over this. - the Police were lovely. I'm stoked that I got to go over the bridge - what a feat of urban exploration. I was there as well and it was bloody fantastic to be able to walk over the bridge, particularly when I know my grandmother did when it opened.

What stood out for me was
- no fear of the large numbers of bikes there – pedestrians and cyclists mingled incredibly well
- large numbers of simply middle-aged, middle-class people (and lots of children) there signalling this wasn’t the actions of some ‘rabble rousers’
- the scenery was amazing – walking up towards the North Shore, then down the other side, seeing the harbour and out to Coromandel, and back across seeing the city up close on the left, then the shoreline receeding away up the Waitemata to Te Atatu pennisula – that was pretty amazing
- the sunny day!
- the fact that Wayne McDonald had no Plan B! I was very surprised – never go anywhere without a Plan B and he clearly didn’t have one – otherwise it would have been easy to close the two clipons and let the crowd move up those. I hope he loses his job over this.
- the Police were lovely.

I’m stoked that I got to go over the bridge – what a feat of urban exploration.

]]> By: Chris http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-97 Chris Sun, 24 May 2009 04:37:47 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-97 Feeling was amongst our group that the closing of all the lanes was a deliberate action by Transit to make as big a mess as possible, so the protesters looked bad. I seriously doubt the clipons are that flimsy. Did you talk to any of the people waiting at Curran St when we got back? They'd been "detoured" there around the blockage on the main motorway. Spectacular incompetence or deliberate damage control? It'll be interesting to to see the news coverage tonight. Other than that, what an awesome morning! Feeling was amongst our group that the closing of all the lanes was a deliberate action by Transit to make as big a mess as possible, so the protesters looked bad. I seriously doubt the clipons are that flimsy. Did you talk to any of the people waiting at Curran St when we got back? They’d been “detoured” there around the blockage on the main motorway. Spectacular incompetence or deliberate damage control? It’ll be interesting to to see the news coverage tonight.

Other than that, what an awesome morning!

]]> By: Jon http://transportblog.co.nz/2009/05/24/our-bridge/#comment-96 Jon Sun, 24 May 2009 03:47:00 +0000 http://transportblog.co.nz/?p=477#comment-96 Great photos. Awesome day in history. Lets hope its a turning point for action. Great photos. Awesome day in history. Lets hope its a turning point for action.

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